September Car Observation Thread

[Robert Hall]

Have a few days off, took a drive...beautiful sunny 75 degree day. Drove down to Tuscarawas County where I'm from and drove some backroads I haven't driven in 30 years or more..

Outside the village of Tuscarawas on a back road, I spotted what appeared to be a 1941 1940 LaSalle moldering in a yard...

Edited September 5, 2020 by Robert Hall

[balthazar]

'40 is the last year.
Prob a '38-40, but I've not committed LaSalles to memory.

[Robert Hall]

13 hours ago, balthazar said:

'40 is the last year.
Prob a '38-40, but I've not committed LaSalles to memory.

The vertical slots on each side of the grille is why I thought it was the '40.

 

 

A couple other spotting from that trip---a black '62 Falcon convertible, no top, sitting in a yard along w/ a couple mid 60s Ford F-series pickups and a couple old 60s-70s IH fronted schoolbuses,   and along I-77 in Canton spotted a classic car dealer w/ a yellow '56-57 Corvette on top of the building on a sign.

Edited September 6, 2020 by Robert Hall

[balthazar]

Super clean :

[trinacriabob]

I had just been reading the admin staff review on the newer Volvo sedan and I saw one right after that.  Here it is.

It's fairly safe looking.  I like the rear fascia fairly well.  I saw those frumpy, old school a/c vents (and knobs) inside.  If Volvos were anything like they used to be, or were reputed to be, it should feel like a bank vault and last a good long while.

[balthazar]

No chance to get a pic, but saw a gleaming nuclear yellow C8 Corvette, parked in side lot of store, all by itself.
and a really clean '68-ish Falcon 2-dr sedan with modern larger Torque Thrust rims, white w/ black top. I think I've spotted it once before a few years back.

[oldshurst442]

A Tale of Two Chevys.  What a contrast I must say.

In a Couche Tard parking lot (7 Eleven if you will) 

At one end of a 7-8 car parking on the left. An all black C7 Corvette Z06 with the Z07 package and at the complete other end, a 1988-'89ish blue Corsica and no other cars in the middle.    The Corsica was in extremely good condition. 

As I zoomed past the depanneur, this is the visual I got:  

                        

Edited September 11, 2020 by oldshurst442

[balthazar]

[Robert Hall]

11 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

A Tale of Two Chevys.  What a contrast I must say.

In a Couche Tard parking lot (7 Eleven if you will) 

At one end of a 7-8 car parking on the left. An all black C7 Corvette Z06 with the Z07 package and at the complete other end, a 1988-'89ish blue Corsica and no other cars in the middle.    The Corsica was in extremely good condition. 

As I zoomed past the depanneur, this is the visual I got:  

                        

Odd neither car has a license plate...is that a EU style license plate bracket on the bumper of the Corsica with a 'Russia' decal? 

[Robert Hall]

Spotted a very clean '74 Monte Carlo in a triple avocado green (a color that was very popular w/ mid 70s Chevys I think) and a pink chrome late model Mustang GT convertible (probably a wrap, looked like a Spectraflame Hot Wheels car). 

[trinacriabob]

Spotted on 9/11/2020.  I guess this accessory exists, but it's the first time I've seen it.  The owner saw me taking a photo and laughed.

Edited September 14, 2020 by trinacriabob
added that this was in 2020

[Robert Hall]

^ That would work for me also, as I have a black Jeep.  But I'm definitely not the black sheep of my family...

Edited September 14, 2020 by Robert Hall

[trinacriabob]

5 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

^ That would work for me also, as I have a black Jeep.  But I'm definitely not the black sheep of my family...

I probably qualify, but rarely got into trouble.  More often than not, it tends to be middle and last born kids. For me, I think it was mostly about attitude.

- - - - -

Also spotted this weekend ... this was just a regular restaurant serving a happy hour on its patio, and someone obviously decided to drive their classic Pontiac GTO (426, 429, not sure) to it.

The front end treatment is suggestive of the big Bonneville

Thinking back, this roof line was sleek compared to the more stout '65s

A signature on the hood to remind you it's a Pontiac. 

Pull tabs, so no A/C.  No electric gizmos.  Blue!

Don't know the name for this finned back lite treatment, but it was unique to the GM mid-sizes of this run of a few MYs.

Great tail lamps.  Horizontal makes the car look sportier, IMHO.  Possibly Grand Prix related, in a way.  

This was a pleasant surprise.

[Robert Hall]

Beautiful ‘67 GTO.  Would be a 400.  I was the last-born in my family, and my sister is the middle child.  We have both been the best behaved and successful, while our older brother has been a perpetual screwup since he was a teenager.  

[trinacriabob]

10 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Beautiful ‘67 GTO.  Would be a 400.  I was the last-born in my family, and my sister is the middle child.  We have both been the best behaved and successful, while our older brother has been a perpetual screwup since he was a teenager.  

The 400 was born by then?  Interesting.  Someone who saw the photos did say '67.

[Robert Hall]

2 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

The 400 was born by then?  Interesting.  Someone who saw the photos did say '67.

‘67 was the first year for the 400. 

[balthazar]

Ford Model A roadster hotrod, white top, black body.
Beat up '72 Ranchero, rolling.
'39 Cadillac sedan, white, at limo business, but sitting on all flats / an advertising 'sign'.

[trinacriabob]

When it rains, it pours ... within 5 minutes at each other, and on the same major street, 2 very cool older Buicks.

Here's a '76 Buick Regal S/R.  The badging is gone and modified (the S/R badge is gone and a 350 badge was added where they used to put a V6 badge, but this was a V8.)  The guy (in the car) told me he picked it up for between $3K and $4K.  That is amazing.  I pulled out my phone and explained to him that S/Rs were fairly rare and Buick's late answer to the upscale Cutlasses with buckets of those same years.  He didn't know about the S/R designation, but knew of Salon and Calais trims for Olds.  When they took the Regal from horizontal to "baby Eldorado" tail lamp treatment, it took the appeal of this coupe way, way up.

I asked him if I could take photos.  He was cool with it.

The Superman floor mats have to go, but check out the trestle shifter on the console.

We will never see these kinds of automotive interiors again.  Sad.

Then, a few blocks away, I see this.  A '91 or '92 Riviera.  This was the best color for it, IMO, and for its sibling, the Toronado.  Olds called it Light Driftwood Metallic.  Either car looked great in it, provided it had alloy wheels and not wire wheel covers.  I'm probably partial to the Toro.

With this rear pillar and the rounder rear fenders, along with the notchback rear window and long trunk, this run of Rivieras was unmistakable.

As the Riviera downsized, so did its "Parthenon" grille.

Amazing sights, within just 5 minutes.

Edited September 16, 2020 by trinacriabob

[balthazar]

'58 Corvette, top off, white w a silver cove, mint, motoring down a local 2-lane.

[David]

@trinacriabob Is that an 8 Track deck I spy on that Buick?

[trinacriabob]

38 minutes ago, David said:

@trinacriabob Is that an 8 Track deck I spy on that Buick?

Good eye!  He told me he put it in for old school, memory lane purposes.

What a sweet ride, though.  If it were in a nicer color combo, I wouldn't mind having one.  And the price he paid!!! They want big bucks for those old Cutlasses and Regals in good condition.

[Robert Hall]

Nice Regal and Riviera...haven't seen one of those Regals in ages.   There is a Riviera of that vintage I see occasionally around here, same color...in a driveway w/ a white Regal 4dr from around 2000 and a silver '96-99 Riviera. 

[Drew Dowdell]

Over Labor Day weekend I went to Deep Creek Maryland and rented a cottage on a farm away from the main resort area. Had a nice restful vacation with some hiking and a lot of sleeping in.   But we also went to the nearby town of Oakland which has a small transportation museum in it. 

[balthazar]

Buddy's shop.
Upper L to R:
'70 Chevelle SS (customer's)
'77 Malibu, now a 454/TH400
'72 Cutlass S converted to 4-4-2, 455/4-spd
'79 Firebird, Chevy 350/TH350
'74 Camaro, 350/TH350

Edited September 17, 2020 by balthazar

[trinacriabob]

Parking structure spotting - today

A coupe made by Hyundai in a lime color - not sure of the name of this model

Chargers look great in a lot of colors, though I wouldn't necessarily want to own a red one.

[ocnblu]

17 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

name of this model

Genesis

18 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

Chargers look great

IIRC those wheels indicate an AWD version.

[Drew Dowdell]

Wait a mullet!!!!

[balthazar]

‘55-56 Chevy stake body, clean original

[trinacriabob]

On 9/20/2020 at 7:53 PM, ocnblu said:

Genesis

IIRC those wheels indicate an AWD version.

(1) Thank you, and (2) I believe so; I've seen different wheel designs for more basic RWD models.

Edited September 23, 2020 by trinacriabob

[ocnblu]

13 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Wait a mullet!!!!

So that's a base model Ecosport, and you can order an external spare like in India etc., except it's only on the base trim... which I find odd.  I still like these, they have more stuff on them than an equivalent Trax, and the side-opening door is super handy.

[Drew Dowdell]

3 hours ago, ocnblu said:

So that's a base model Ecosport, and you can order an external spare like in India etc., except it's only on the base trim... which I find odd.  I still like these, they have more stuff on them than an equivalent Trax, and the side-opening door is super handy.

Only on the base trim? That's super odd.  What does the upper trim come with? Fix-a-Flat?

[ocnblu]

8 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Only on the base trim? That's super odd.  What does the upper trim come with? Fix-a-Flat?

Yup, well, an inflator kit I think. 

[David]

3 minutes ago, ocnblu said:

Yup, well, an inflator kit I think. 

EcoSport above base has a Inflator Kit. LOL, too funny. Think I would want the real tire. That is surprising that you cannot opt to get it above the base trim. Very Weird.

[Robert Hall]

3 minutes ago, ocnblu said:

Yup, well, an inflator kit I think. 

Makes me wonder what the similarly sized Trax comes with...and I drove my sister's Trax from Florida to Ohio in January and never thought about a spare..

My next door neighbor's teenage daughter has a black Ecosport. 

[trinacriabob]

Today, I saw a Tesla on the freeway.  That's not that unusual.

On it, it had the license plate:

GAS HAHA

It made for a HAHA moment.

[ocnblu]

10 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

Today, I saw a Tesla on the freeway.  That's not that unusual.

On it, it had the license plate:

GAS HAHA

It made for a HAHA moment.

Well I think he owns a Mexican restaurant.

[Robert Hall]

13 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

Today, I saw a Tesla on the freeway.  That's not that unusual.

On it, it had the license plate:

GAS HAHA

It made for a HAHA moment.

Saw a Tesla a couple of years ago with the license plate 'GARBGE'.   I figured that either the driver was a fan of the band Garbage,  was in the waste management business, or was named Bob Garbage or something like that. 

[ocnblu]

9 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Saw a Tesla a couple of years ago with the license plate 'GARBGE'.   I figured that either the driver was a fan of the band Garbage,  was in the waste management business, or was named Bob Garbage or something like that. 

Two intentional wrong answers in a row, mine and yours

[David]

Right Answer!  

[A Horse With No Name]

On 9/23/2020 at 6:50 AM, ocnblu said:

So that's a base model Ecosport, and you can order an external spare like in India etc., except it's only on the base trim... which I find odd.  I still like these, they have more stuff on them than an equivalent Trax, and the side-opening door is super handy.

They have ctually grown on me quite a bit. Doubt I will ever own one...but neat. 

[trinacriabob]

9 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

Saw a Tesla a couple of years ago with the license plate 'GARBGE'.   I figured that either the driver was a fan of the band Garbage,  was in the waste management business, or was named Bob Garbage or something like that. 

Do some Tesla owners have cognitive dissonance about their purchase?  I don't know.  It's not my sort of sled, and not because I have anything against EVs.  It's just the whole Tesla mystique that I find annoying.

This afternoon, I tanked up.  Upon leaving the gas station, I saw a new mid-engine Corvette.  I have been seeing more of them.  This time, and for the first time, I saw one that was metallic silver with the dark red leather interior.  It was stunning, and not just because I like that color combination in general.

[balthazar]

Looks like Tesla owners are picking up where bmw owners left off.

[riviera74]

Here is something borrowed and blue.  I am sure that ocnblu will like it.

 

[daves87rs]

3 hours ago, riviera74 said:

Here is something borrowed and blue.  I am sure that ocnblu will like it.

 

Love that color!!!!

[ocnblu]

'67 Biscayne!  Awesome ride.  😍

[trinacriabob]

11 hours ago, riviera74 said:

Here is something borrowed and blue.  I am sure that ocnblu will like it.

 

Nice.  Base model ... and a coupe.  Thinking they still used the 283 V8 for this M.Y., or would it have been 307 and/or 327 ...

[ocnblu]

Well I think this one was likely born a six cylinder, due to the lack of a "V" with crossed flags fender emblem.

[balthazar]

^ Probably correct, tho I note it's also missing it's 'Chevrolet' grille script. Owner may have removed those emblems.
Gonna go out on that limb and guess this has 8 slugs under the hood now.

[balthazar]

Pumpkin-colored, impeccably-clean '72 Monte Carlo.

[ocnblu]

44 minutes ago, balthazar said:

Pumpkin-colored, impeccably-clean '72 Monte Carlo.

One of my mom's BFs had a beautiful '72 Monte in Burnt Orange, it was about two yerrs old at that point.  Black vinyl top, saddle vinyl buckets.

Example: